Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has threatened to arrest the contractor handling a section of the Benin-Abraka Road over the alleged abandonment of the project despite receiving payment from the immediate past administration.
The governor issued the threat while speaking with members of the All Progressives Congress in Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas during his ongoing tour of the state.
Okpebholo said his administration had been concerned about the condition of the road and wanted to intervene, but contractual arrangements inherited from the previous administration had complicated the process. According to him, however, the situation had become unacceptable as motorists continue to experience hardship along the route.
Governor Blames Abandonment on Contractor
Okpebholo explained that the Benin-Abraka Road project was awarded to two contractors before he assumed office.
According to the governor, one contractor has continued working on its assigned section and has reached approximately 75 per cent completion. The other contractor, however, allegedly abandoned its portion despite having received payment under the previous administration.
The governor said the abandoned section had become a major source of difficulty for motorists and residents who depend on the road for transportation and economic activities.
He said the previous administration entered into the contractual agreement and made payment for the project before his government came into office. Despite that payment, he alleged, the contractor failed to complete the assigned work.
Okpebholo also alleged that the contractor was a friend of former Governor Godwin Obaseki. That claim was made by the governor and has not been independently established in the reports reviewed.
‘I Am Going to Arrest That Contractor’
The governor said he had initially avoided speaking publicly about the project, but complaints from residents during his visit prompted him to address the situation.
Okpebholo expressed frustration that residents were continuing to endure the consequences of an unfinished project that, according to his account, had already received payment.
He then issued a direct warning to the contractor.
“I am going to arrest that contractor,” the governor declared.
The statement represents a sharp escalation in the governor’s position on contractors handling inherited projects.
Rather than allowing the abandoned section to remain unresolved, Okpebholo indicated that his administration intends to pursue action against the contractor while also addressing the condition of the road.
Benin-Abraka Road Becomes Major Concern
The Benin-Abraka Road serves as an important route connecting communities in Edo with Delta State and other parts of the South-South region.
Consequently, its condition affects more than ordinary commuters. Transport operators, traders, businesses and residents who depend on the road can also feel the impact when movement becomes difficult.
A deteriorating or unfinished road can increase travel time, raise vehicle maintenance costs and make the movement of goods and passengers more difficult.
For communities along the route, therefore, the dispute over the abandoned construction work is not simply a disagreement between government and contractor. It has direct consequences for everyday economic activity.
Two Contractors, Two Different Outcomes
One of the central issues raised by Okpebholo is the contrasting progress recorded by the two contractors.
While one contractor is reportedly progressing with its section and has reached about 75 per cent completion, the other has allegedly stopped work on its assigned portion.
That contrast has intensified the governor’s criticism because it demonstrates, in his view, that work can proceed despite the challenges associated with the project.
The governor argued that motorists should not continue to suffer because one contractor has failed to deliver on its responsibility.
Meanwhile, his administration has indicated that it wants to address infrastructure projects inherited from the previous government, although existing contractual obligations can limit how quickly it can intervene.
Government Under Pressure to Act
The governor’s comments come amid growing public attention to abandoned and delayed infrastructure projects across Nigeria.
Governments frequently inherit contracts that were awarded by previous administrations, creating questions about payments already made, work completed, contractual obligations and the legal options available when contractors fail to meet agreed requirements.
In this case, Okpebholo said his administration had been constrained by the contractual arrangements surrounding the Benin-Abraka Road.
However, his latest remarks suggest that the government is no longer prepared to remain silent about the situation.
The governor’s position also reflects a broader warning to contractors working on government projects in Edo State: receiving public funds comes with an obligation to deliver according to the terms of the contract.
Residents Want the Road Fixed
For motorists and communities that regularly use the Benin-Abraka Road, the most important issue remains the completion of the abandoned section.
Political arguments over which administration awarded the contract or made payment are unlikely to ease the daily difficulties faced by road users.
What residents ultimately need is a functional road that allows people, goods and services to move safely and efficiently.
Therefore, the governor’s threat of arrest has placed the contractor and the project under renewed public attention.
At the same time, any enforcement action would need to follow the applicable legal and contractual procedures, particularly where government contracts, payments and alleged breaches are involved.
Okpebholo Signals Tougher Position on Contractors
The development also fits into Okpebholo’s broader public warnings to contractors working on government projects.
The governor has previously warned non-performing contractors to meet agreed timelines and project specifications or risk losing their contracts.
His latest comments indicate that the administration wants contractors to understand that delays and abandonment will attract government scrutiny.
Moreover, the Benin-Abraka Road dispute places renewed focus on how governments manage inherited projects after political transitions.
When a new administration takes office, it must balance contractual obligations with public pressure to complete projects that communities have already been promised.
The Road Ahead
The immediate question is whether the governor’s threat will lead to formal action against the contractor and, more importantly, whether the abandoned section of the Benin-Abraka Road will finally be completed.
Okpebholo has made his position clear: he does not want motorists to continue suffering because of a project he says was already paid for but abandoned.
With one contractor reportedly progressing on its section and the other facing the governor’s threat of arrest, attention will now turn to what action the Edo State Government takes next.
For residents and motorists, however, the desired outcome remains straightforward. They want the road completed, the hardship reduced and a major route connecting communities in Edo and Delta restored to dependable use.
Ultimately, the controversy has shifted the spotlight from promises to delivery. The governor has threatened action, the contractor faces serious allegations of non-performance, and the Benin-Abraka Road remains a test of whether government intervention can turn a long-running infrastructure problem into a completed project.
